Talking Point #9

What is the article about?

• acceptance


• females


• taping the glass


• equality


• women's right


• McIntosh five-phase


• harassment


• males=females not males vs. females

Argument

Orestein's argues that gender equality should be present in schools. Every woman that played an important role in our country should be credited for it. It is not about women vs men, it is about women equal to men.

Evidence

"Women are one-half of the world's people; they do two-thirds of the world's work; they earn one-tenth of the world's income; they own one one-hundredth of the world's property."

" This is a classroom that's gone through the gender looking glass. It is the mirror opposite of most classrooms that girls will enter, which are adorned with masculine role models, with male heroes, with books by and about men.."

"As long as it's required, [boys] accept it...[b]ut it wouldn't occur to them to choose it."

"This is learning from the inside out...[t]hey do the research, they connect into that other life, and they really become the person."

"Sometimes kids resist the idea of gender equity..."

"...women's studies is not about 'ruling over,' it is about 'existing with,'...it is important to be explicit with these reassurance right away."

"I usually find that boys resist studying women when they're presented as 'lesser,'...and if they're presented as 'lesser,' girls don't want to study women either."

Comments

By far this is the best article I read. Women vs. Men have always been a fun theme to talk about because we can relate to it very much. Many of the quotes presented were very interested. The quote I that really hit me was.." I usually find that boys resit studying women when they're presented as 'lesser'...and if they're presented as 'lesser,' girls don't want to study either." This quote is so true. Many women make it so easy for guys by satisfying their needs. If a guy does not want to hear it...women will shut up. It is time for women to stand up and say "I have the right to be recognize." It is not about converting this issue into a wrestling match, but making sure we are viewed as women who are Strong, independent, explorers, inventors..etc.

Another quote that hit me was the quote about a girl who was talking about her dressing, "would people think I'm a ho' if I wear this?" Why do we as women have to be concern about our dressing? Look I could be walking down the street in a bikini and that does not give any man the right consider me a ho or harass me. Women do not ask to be harassed. Another thing that bother me is...If a man sleeps around with women he is the shit...."A PIMP" but if a woman does the same thing she is label as as whore, slut, and so on. I am going to post lyrics of song named "hold us down" by Christina Aguilera and Lil Kim. When I read all this article many of the things remind me of the song. AGAIN: I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE THIS INTO A WRESTLING MATCH BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN, I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD.

So what am I not supposed to have an opinion.

Should I be quiet just because I'm a woman

Call me a bitch cos I speak what's on my mind

Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled

When a female fires back

Suddenly the target don't know how to act

So he does what any little boy will do

Making up a few false rumors or two

That for sure is not a man to me

Slanderin' names for popularity

It's sad you only get your fame through controversy

But now it's time for me to come and give you more to say

This is for my girls all around the world

Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth

Thinking all women should be seen, not heard

So what do we do girls?

Shout louder!Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground

Lift your hands high and wave them proud

Take a deep breath and say it loud

Never can, never will, can't hold us down

Nobody can hold us down

Nobody can hold us down

Nobody can hold us down

Never can, never will

So what am I not supposed to say what I'm saying

Are you offended by the message I'm bringing

Call me whatever cos your words don't mean a thing

Guess you ain't even a man enough to handle what I sing

If you look back in history It's a common double standard of society

The guy gets all the glory the more he can score

While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore

I don't understand why it's okay

The guy can get away with it & the girl gets named

All my ladies come together and make a change

Start a new beginning for us everybody sing

This is for my girls all around the world

Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth

Thinking all women should be seen, not heard

What do we do girls?Shout louder!Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground

Lift your hands high and wave 'em proud

Take a deep breath and say it loud

Never can, never will, can't hold us down

Lil' Kim:Check it - Here's something I just can't understand

If the guy have three girls then he's the man

He can either give us some head, sex her off

If the girl do the same, then she's a whore

But the table's about to turn

I'll bet my fame on it

Cats take my ideas and put their name on it

It's aiight though, you can't hold me down

I got to keep on movin'

To all my girls with a man who be tryin to mack

Do it right back to him and let that be that

You need to let him know that his game is whack

And Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back
But you're just a little boy

Think you're so cute, so coy

You must talk so big To make up for small lil' things

So you're just a little boy

All you'll do is annoy

You must talk so big To make up for small lil' things

This is for my girls...This is for my girls all around the world

Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth

Thinking all women should be seen, not heard

So what do we do girls?

Shout louder!Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground

Lift your hands high and wave 'em proud

Take a deep breath and say it loud

Never can, never will, can't hold us down

This is for my girls all around the world

Who've come across a man who don't respect your worth

Thinking all women should be seen, not heard

So what do we do girls?

Shout louder!Letting them know we're gonna stand our ground

Lift your hands high and wave 'em proud

Take a deep breath and say it loud

Never can, never will, can't hold us down

Spread the word, can't hold us down.

(http://www.lyrics.com/lyric.php?id=3037&Songs=Can't_Hold_Us_Down)

TALKING POINT #7

Premise:

• black/white


• segregation


• Brown v. Board of Education


• stigma


• label


• 14th amendment

Argument:

Charles Lawrence argues that although the Brown v. Board of Education marked an end to segregation in schools, it has not ended racism in our society. Our country is denying these issues because we do not understand or act as if we do not understand the purpose of segregation.

Evidence:

" There is little doubt that psychological impact of Brown was the spark that ignited the spontaneous combustion of boycotts, sit-ins, voter-registration, marches, and political organizations that resulted in much significant change for blacks," (pg. 53).

"It is the thesis of this paper that the Brown decision fostered a way of thinking about segregation that has allowed both judiciary and society at large to deny the reality of race in America, that the recognition of that reality is critical to the framing of any meaningful remedy- judicial or political- and that Brown may ultimately be labeled a success only insofar as we are to make it stand for what it should have stood for in 1954," (pg. 54).

"segregation American-style....has only one purpose: to create and maintain a permanent lower class or sub caste defined as race," (pg. 54).

" ...segregation violated the equal protection clause because of its empirically demonstrated discrimination effect in the educational opportunity afforded blacks," (pg. 55).

" Once it is understood that segregation achieves its purpose by labeling blacks as inferior, it becomes clear that segregation is firmly entrenched when the label of inferiority is reflected in societal attitudes..." (pg. 58).

Comments:

I had a difficult time reading this article. The begining was interesting, with the purpose of segregation and its effects on black students. I agree with Lawrence, we need to realize the racism in our society today, and boycott it. The title of this article, "One More River to Cross," has many meanings. In the case of this article, Blacks have one more river to cross: The end of segregation in our society.

Talking Point #6 on Oakes

Premise:

• ability group
• tracking
• public schools
• uneven opportunities
• differences among students
• high-ability and low-ability groups
• tracking alternatives
• confronting
• active learning
• cooperative learning
• multiple ability tasks
• challenge
• heterogeneous classrooms

Argument:

Jeannie Oakes argues that schools need to take another route towards teaching to guarantee every child receives an equal opportunity in education.

Evidence:

"...students who are placed in high-ability groups have access to far richer schooling experiences than other students." (pg. 178)

"...students in high-ability English classes were more likely to be taught classic and modern literature...eventually [boosting] their scores on college entrance exams." (pg. 178)

"...low-ability classes...learned basic reading skills." (pg. 178)

"...low-ability classes were likely to have little contact with knowledge skills that would allow them to move into higher classes or to be successful if they got there.' (pg. 178)

"...those who have the most difficulty learning seem to have fewer of the best teachers." (pg. 179)

" In low ability classes, for example, teachers seem to be less encouraging and more punitive, placing more emphasis on discipline and behavior...' (pg. 179)

"...the most important and difficult tasks for those who would change tracking is to confront deeply held beliefs..." (pg. 180)

" Heterogeneous groups of students will probably do best in classroom where the curriculum content is challenging, complex, related to real life and- most of all- rich with meaning." (pg. 180)

"...teacher professionalism is central to successful tracking alternatives." pg. 180)

Comments:

I agree 100% with Oakes. I know what it is to be in a low-ability group because I was part of it. When I came from Puerto Rico, I was placed in ESL. I did not know anything about English as a Second Language. The only thing I knew was that I was going to learn English. The curriculum is completely different. Teachers are more focused on teaching teaching students the rules and codes, and forget about academic. For example, when I was in 5Th grade our theme was responsibility. After reading and analyzing my ESL experiences, I feel embarrassed to say that some of my teachers were focused on teaching the rules and codes, instead of the academics.

I believe it is unfair for minority students to be cheated on. I understand that one must learn the rules and codes to fit in a society. However, it should not be the central theme in a curriculum. Minority students also have a right to learn about classic and modern literature. There should be something to help low-ability groups. Unevenness in Education is only forming a barrier, prohibiting minorities to continue with their education.